BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle (2018):

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle (2018):

“BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is a 2D crossover fighting game developed and published by Arc System Works, first released for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Windows in 2018. Cross Tag Battle features characters from different series, including BlazBlue, Persona 4 Arena, Under Night In-Birth and RWBY.”

Well, it's BlazBlue with some extra characters, and tag team mechanics! I liked it. It has some characters I didn't know about like from the Under Night In-Birth series. (But, I get that they are monster-themed characters.) Honestly, it's worth it just for the novelty of seeing characters from Persona 4 like Chie fight Ragna The Bloodedge or Ruby Rose from RWBY.

The attacks and combos are insane, as usual with BlazBlue. Plus each character has a “clash” button, that automatically performs a small tag team combo. I thought that was nice. It sets up some nice juggling. Battles are 2-on-2. You can tag another fighter when one is low on health. Or set up tag attacks! There are some “secret” characters too, like Neo Politan from RWBY, or the Blitztank from Akatsuki Blitzkampf.

Apart from single player 2-on-2 battles, each franchise in the game (BlazBlue, Persona 4, Under Night In-Birth.) has its own story mode (visual novel.) to complete. Or you can complete the full story mode where every franchise is summoned by BlazBlue, and they all have to find magic stones to return to their franchise homeworld...by engaging in 2-on-2 tag team battles, of course.

Some of my favorite characters in this game are Ahkiko from Persona 4 and Yang Xiao Long from RWBY. Both boxing types, and good for quick combos. Plus, anyone can release special attacks when you fill your character's “Cross Burst” Meter. Those are always neat. Overall, I'd say check it out on Steam.

Death Race: Beyond Anarchy (2018):

Death Race: Beyond Anarchy (2018):

"Black ops specialist Connor Gibson infiltrates a maximum security prison to take down legendary driver Frankenstein in a violent and brutal car race."

Technically, this is Death Race 2000 4. In this version, a privatized security firm runs the Sprawl, a massive prison housing around 420,000 inmates. One of the inmates is hired to kill Frankenstein, the race's champion. It's pretty fast-paced with a death metal/punk aesthetic vs. the original game show parody setting. The action and racing scenes are over-the-top as always. I liked it. It's on Netflix. Check it out!

Love, Chuuniyibo, and Other Delusions The Movie: Take on Me (2018):

Love, Chuuniyibo and Other Delusions The Movie: Take on Me (2018):

Chuuniybo is a condition described as “middle school 2nd year syndrome”; a youngster who believes they have magic powers. Yuta used to be a chuuniyibo, but has become a realist as high school is ending. His girlfriend is a full-blown chuunyibo who runs a magical girl club at their school, and goes by the name “Dark Lord Shingen”. Her name is Rikka. Yuta is “Dark Flame Master”.

When it’s announced that Rikka must join her guardian Tokka in Italy, Rikka and Yuta make plans to elope together. Yuta learns that Rikka has a mother in Hokkaido, so they plan to live with her. But Tokka and some of her magical girl classmates Dekimori and her assistant, are pursuing her, blackmailed by Tokka. This convinces Rikka of even further betrayal, and she pretend battles her friends with magic. Although she believes she is like a high-level RPG mage.

There’s a nice contrast here between magic and realism. Yuta doesn’t want to force Rikka to accept realism, because he thinks she’ll lose part of herself; she needs to see the world on her own terms. It’s really about how people are willing to make sacrifices for love. That love makes the world exciting. But there’s also a theme of growing and slowly accepting reality. Watch it if you get a chance.